Gun perforator



Dec. 16, 1941. L. SPENCER 2,266,341

GUN PERFORATOR Filed Feb. 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR Fla! v q/QGXX L. SPENCER GUN PERFbRATOR Dec. 16, 1941.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 6, 1941 FIG, 6

Patented Dec. 16, 1941 2,266,341 GUN PERFORATOR Lloyd Spencer, Los Angeles, ('Jalif. assignor to Lane-Wells Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application February 6, 1941, Serial No. 377,594

Claims. (Cl. ISL-0.5)

My invention relates to gun perforators; that is, to devices which are adapted to be lowered within well casing for the purpose of firing projectiles therethrough in order that fluids may enter. Among the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a gun perforator which is particularly compact in that a large number of gun units may be contained in a given length of gun perforator so that the size and weight of the gun perforator may be held to a minimum; Second, to provide a gun perforator which is particularly designed for electrical operation in which each gun unit is fired individually, there being incorporated a novel arrangement for protecting the lead wires, not only from the surge effect of liquids surging about the gun perforator as it moves through the well or is fired but, in

' being secured by bolts isolated from the cartridg chamber so that the threads of the bolts are not subjected to erosion or other detrimental effects resulting from contact with the burning gases in the powder chamber; and

Fifth, to provide a gun perforator construction wherein the wiring is incorporated in a member which is entirely independent of the gun body which contains the gun unit, so that the gun body and its gun unit may be thoroughly cleaned without subjecting the electrical parts of the gun to the action of solvents or other deleterious material that might be used in cleaning the gun body.

With the above and other objects in View, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a gun perforator embodying my invention, with a portion of the cover plate broken away;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view through 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional viewthrough 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevational view similar to Figure 1, illustrating a modified form of my gun perforator, also with the cover plate broken away;

Figure 5 is a partial sectional, partial elevational view through 5-5 of Figure 4; I

Figure 6 is a typical transverse sectional view through 6-6 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view in the same plane asFigure 6, but showing in detail the electrical connection between the cartridge and the conductor.

With reference to the structure shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, my gun perforator comprises a gun body I which is cylindrical and of uniform diameter. Formed in the gun body are a plurality of laterally directed gun bores 2 which re shown in Figures 1 and 3 arranged in a common vertical plane and in parallel horizontal planes. Each gun bore is intersected by a horizontal cartridge bore 3. Each gun bore receives a bullet d positioned forwardly of the cross bore or cartridge bore 3 and each cartridge bore receives a cartridge 5. In addition, the gun bore may terminate inwardly of th cartridge bore andreceive an auxiliary cartridge 6.

The gun body is provided with a longitudinal slot or notched portion traversing the outer ends of the cartridge bores 55. The slot or notched portion forms twoiight angular faces I and 8, the face I being intersected by the cartridge bores and parallel to the vertical plane through the gun bores while th facet extends radially. The gun body is also provided with a conductor channel 9 extending parallel to and adjacent the face 8.

The conductor channel is provided with a suitable cover l0 and receives a plurality of conductors ll. Itis preferred to fire the gun units one at a time; consequently, there is provided one conductor for each unit. The upper end of the conductor channel connects with the upper end or head l2 of the gun body, which is adapted to be connected toa selector switch case (not shown) in which is provided a suitable selector switch (also not shown) electrically connected with the several conductors. Opposite each gun unit formed by the gun bore and its associated cartridge bore, the conductors are joined to terminals l3- which intersect the face 8 of the notched portion in the gun body.

Each cartridge bore 3 is adapted to be covered by a conductor gasket l4 formed of very thin metal and covered with a thin tough coating of insulation. The conductor gasket comprises a. circular gasket portion l5 which fits over the conductor bore and a tab portion l6 which extends across the face I, then radially outwardly across the face 8 to the terminal I 3 and is secured thereto by a screw ll. The insulation is rewhich well fluids might enter. edges of theconductor gaskets are covered with.

insulation the amount of liquid which can come I in contact with the electrical parts is reduced to moved sufiiciently to permit contact with'the 'body by bolts '38 positioned between the several cartridge bores. I I

The upper end of the cover plate terminates in v a head 39 which extends over the upper end of tapered internally directed skirt portion 2i). The I center of the sealing plug ISis provided with a small'opening in which fits a contact rivet 2|, there being provided insulation material be-' tween the rivet and the sealing plug. The rivet 2! is adapted to make contact with the contact area it and also to' engage a contact clip 22' provided on the outer end of the cartridge 5.

The notched, portion is adapted to be filled by a cover plate 23 which is, therefore, complementary to the gun body 5. The cover plate is secured to the gun body by bolts 24 which screw into the gun body between the several gun units, as shown best in Figures l'and 3. Suitable recesses 2i are'provided in the cover plate to.accommodate the bolt heads. Y I I In order to minimize the possibility of an electrical short at the point where the conductor gasket joins the terminal 133, an insulation strip 2'6 may be inlaid in the corresponding base of the cover plate. It is intended that the contact gasket be formed of verythin metal and only the thinnest of insulation be used, so that the total thickness is only a matter of a few thousandths of an'inch. Necessarily in "the drawings, the thickness of this gasket is exaggerated. Also, it is desirable to provide a close fit between the cover plate'and I the gun body so as to minimize the space into If, however, the

tors contained in the'conductor channel'may be I molded into a cable capable of resisting the well fluids. Y

The skirt to provided on the sealing plug it limits the pressure area tothe diameter of the cartridge bore by preventing flow of the products of combustion around the edges of the sealing plug, thus minimizing. the load placed on the cover plate. Also, it should be noted that the cover plate is a relatively heavy member and the bolts which hold it are close together so that the explosive force against the cover plate created by the discharge of any one gun unit is distributed to a number of the bolts.

Reference is now directed to Figures 4 to 7 inclusive: In this construction there is provided a gun body 3| having a plurality of gun bores 32. The gun bores are arranged in a common vertical plane but are divided into two sets, the muzzle ends of which face in substantially diametrically opposite directions. The common vertical plane through the gun bores is preferably ofiset slightly from the longitudinal axis of the gun body. Each gun bore is intersected at its inner end by a horizontally extending cartridge bore 33. The cartridge bores are thus arranged in staggered relation. The side of the gun body intersected by the cartridge sockets or cartridge bores 33 is cut away to form a fiat side 34.

The gun bores receive bullets 35 and the cartridge bores receive cartridges 3B. The fiat side of the gun body receives a cover plate 31 which is complementary to the gun body, a cross section of the cover plate being a segment of a circle. The cover plate is connected to the gun the body member and 'coacts with a'segmental companion plate 0 and bolts H to bolt or clamp the body member in place. The head 38 is provided with a central bore 42 which connects with a channel 43 which extends along the inner side of the cover plate proper. The channel thus faces the gun body 31. The channel. is provided with a cover strip M which is preferably providedwith an internal flange coacting with the margins of the channel so that the cover strip may be accurately fitted thereto. The gun body St is provided with a longitudinal recess 45 which is preferablyadapted to receive snugly the cover strip 44 so that the cover plate and body member may be accurately aligned with each other. ceive a conductor cable 46 having a plurality of conductors Al. The conductor cable preferably completelyfills the channel 43 to the exclusion of well fluids.

The cover plate is provided, in axial alignment with each of the cartridge bores33, with a terminal socket d8 of relatively small diameter.

Each terminal socket receives a terminal plug dd which is' electrically isolated, from the socket bycomparatively thin but tough insulation ma-. terial, so that the outer end of the terminal plug which: is flush'with the fiatface of, the cover plate may receive. a substantial impact without shorting. A small conductor passage 56 is drilled from the channel 43' to each terminal socket 48 and a conductor 41 is inserted therein for elec-,

trical contact with its corresponding terminal 1 1 I plug :39. Electricalconnection preferably made by first drilling a small hole into the inner end ofjhe terminal plug while using the con ductor passage 50 as a template, then preparing the end of the conductor for insertion in the hole so drilled. The conductor may be tinned sparingly and a union effected by passing sufficient current to solder the connection or a form of resistant welding may be used. It is desired that the connection be permanent once it is effected and also it is desirable that the terminal plug be fully supported by the insulation material without voids, so that it may withstand its share of the explosive forces generated upon discharge of the cartridge 36.

The outer end of each cartridge bore 33 receives a sealing plug 5| which comprises a relatively heavy base portion 52, around which is formed a tapered skirt portion 53. It is preferred that the outer end of the cartridge bores be counte'rbored slightly to accommodate the sealing plugs. The sealing plugs are coated with a thin but tough insulation material such as the various insulation varnishes, or they may be treated with-the various oxide finishes which provide a thin but very strong insulation of high dielectric quality. At its outer side and in its center the sealing plug 5| is provided with a small contact boss 54 which is adapted to register with the outer end of the corresponding terminal plug 49. The contact boss 54 preferably projects slightly above the flat face of the gun body so that when the cover plate is secured in place a. good electrical contact is made. The juncture between the base 52 and skirt 53 may be reduced in thickness to permit the base to yield slightly, as shown best in Figure 7. The central inner portion of The channel 43 is adapted to rebores.

the base 52 is cleanedoi' insulation to form a contact area 55 for engagement with a contact clip 56 provided on the cartridge 36. A thin gasket 51 of insulation material may surround the contact boss and be clamped between the,

cover plate and gun body.

By constructing the cartridge bores33 slightly larger than the gun bores 32, suflicient powder space may be obtained without the use of any auxiliary space such as that which receives the auxiliary cartridge 6 in the previously described structure. Consequently, the cartridge bore may be moved even closer to the adjacent side wall of the gun body and the gun barrel increased correspondingly over that shown in thebeing cleaned by means which would not be suitable to use if it contained electrical wiring.

Various changes and alternate arrangements may be made within the scope of the appended claims, in which it is my intention to'claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

The gun body itself is thus capable of-- 5. 'A gun perforator comprising: a gun body; a longitudinal cover plate therefor, said gun body and cover plate being complementary to define an elongated cylindrical member; said gun body incorporating a plurality of gun units, each including a lateral gun bore and an intersecting lateral cartridge socket, the outer end of each of said sockets being covered by said cover plate;

' bullets for said gun bores; and electrically re- 1. A gun perforator comprising: an elongated gun body having a plurality of laterally .directed gun bores intersected bylaterally directed cartridge bores, the axes of each gun bore and its corresponding cartridge bore defining a plane that is parallel to any similar plane passed through the axes of any other gun bore and its cartridge bore; and a cover member secured longitudinally of said body member and embracing a plurality of said cartridge bores.

2. A gun perforator comprising: a, gun body incorporating a plurality of gun units, each including intersecting horizontal gun bores and cartridge bores; a cover member embracing a plurality of said cartridge bores; and means for securing said cover in sealing engagement with said gun body to close said cartridge bores.

3. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body; a longitudinal cover plate therefor, said gun body and cover plate being complementary to define an elongated cylindrical member; said gun body incorporating a plurality of gun units, each including a lateral gun bore and an intersecting lateral cartridge socket, the outer end .of each of said sockets being covered by' said cover plate; and means for securing said cover plate to said body member to withstand exprosive pressures generated in said cartridge sockets.

4. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body; a longitudinal cover plate therefor, said gun body and cover plate being complementary to define an elongated cylindrical member; said gun body incorporating a plurality of gun units, each including a lateral gun bore and an intersecting lateral cartridge socket, the outer end of each of said sockets being covered by said cover plate; bullets for said gun bores; electrically responsive cartridges in said cartridge sockets; and means for conducting electrical energy to said cartridges individually.

sponsive cartridges in said cartridge sockets.

6. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body; a longitudinal cover plate therefor, said gun body and cover plate being complementary to define an elongated cylindrical member; said gun body incorporating a plurality of gun units, each including a lateral gun bore and an intersecting lateral cartridge socket, the outer end of each of said sockets being covered by said coverplate; bullets for said gun bores; electrically responsive cartridges in said cartridge sockets; a conductor -cable channel extending longitudinally in said gun body; a conductor cable fitting said channel;

and leads from said cable interposed between said cover plate and gun body for connecting said cartridges individually to said cable.

7. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body; a longitudinal cover plate therefor, said gun body and cover plate being complementary to define an elongated cylindrical member; said gun body incorporating a plurality of gun units; each including a lateral gun bore and an intersecting lateral cartridge socket, the outer end of each of said sockets being covered by said cover plate; bullets for said gun bores; electrically responsive cartridges in said cartridge sockets; a conductor cable channel extending longitudinally in said cover plate; a conductor cable fitting said channel; and lateral branches leading from said conductor cable to said cartridges.

8. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body; a longitudinal cover plate therefor, said gun body and cover plate being complementary to define an elongated cylindrical member; said gun unit having a plurality of cartridge sockets, their outer ends covered by said cover plate, and a. gun bore associated with each socket; bullets for said gun bores; cartridges for said sockets; and means positioned in the outer ends of said sockets adjacent said cover plate to confine the area of pressure against said cover plate to that of the corresponding cartridge socket when its cartridge is discharged.

9., A construction, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said cartridge is electrically responsive; and electrical connection is made therewith through said means.

10. .A gun perforator comprising: of circular cross section with a flattened side; said gun body defining a plurality of gun bores directed alternately-in substantially diametrically opposite directions; said gun body defining further a plurality of cartridge sockets, each extending inwardly from said flattened side and intersecting the inner end of a corresponding gun bore; and a cover plate complementary to said body member covering said cartridge sockets.

11. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body of circular cross section with a flattened side;

a gun body member covering said cartridge sockets; bullets for said gun bores; electrically responsive cartridges for said cartridge sockets; and electrical conductors carried in said cover plate and elec-- trically associated with said cartridges.

12. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body of circular cross section with a longitudinally extending notched portion; said gun body defining a plurality of cartridge sockets extending inwardly from said notched portion and gun bores intersecting said cartridge sockets; and a complementary cover plate fitting said notched portion.

13. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body of circular cross section with a longitudinally extending notched portion; said gun body defining a plurality of cartridge sockets extending inwardly from said notched portion and gun bores intersecting said cartridge sockets; a complementary cover plate fitting said notched portion; bullets for said gun bores; electrically responsive car tridges for said cartridge sockets; said gun body defining a conductor channel adjacent said notched portion; a conductor cable carried in said channel; and leads from said cable to said cartridges clamped between said cover plate and said gun body.

14. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body of circular cross section with a flattened side; said gun body defining a plurality of gun bores directed alternately in substantially diametrically opposite directions; said gun body defining further a plurality of cartridge sockets, each extending inwardly from said 'fiattened side and intersecting the inner end of a corresponding gun bore; a cover plate complementary to said body member covering said cartridge sockets; bullets for said gun bores; electrically responsive cartridges for said cartridge sockets; electrical conductors carried in said cover plate and electrically associated with said cartridges; and means positioned in the outer ends of said sockets adjacent said cover plate to confine the area of pressure against said cover plate to that of the corresponding cartridge socket when its cartridge is discharged.

15. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body of circular cross section with a longitudinally extending notched portion; said gun body defining a plurality of cartridge sockets extending inward- 1y from said notched portion and gun bores intersecting said cartridge sockets; a complementary cover plate fitting said notched portion; bullets for said gun bores; electrically responsive cartridges for said cartridge sockets; said gun body defining a conductor channel adjacent said notched portion; a conductor cable carried in said channel; leads from said cable to said cartridges clamped between said cover plate and said gun body; and means positioned in the outer ends of said sockets adjacent said cover plate to confine the area of pressure against said cover plate to that of the corresponding cartridge socket when its cartridge is discharged.

LLOYD SPENCER. 

